John Kasich, Bernie Sanders win in New Hampshire's Dixville Notch
Sole Republican candidate who called hamlet residents individually favoured in midnight primary vote
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and Ohio Governor John Kasich won in Dixville Notch, the small hamlet on the Canadian border known for being the first New Hampshire poll to report results in presidential primary elections.
Sanders swept Dixville Notch, receiving all four of its Democrat votes. Kasich edged out Donald Trump, taking three of the hamlet's five Republican votes.
Though only nine people voted in total, finishing on top in Dixville Notch is a big win in terms of publicity. As voters go to the polls on Tuesday morning, they'll see the Dixville results splayed across the morning news — something presidential campaigns have capitalized on in the past.
Kasich is seen as an underdog in the New Hampshire primary, but voters in Dixville Notch said they were impressed he took the time to call them individually.
"I was able to connect the man with his record and basically make a decision that probably wouldn't have been the same had I just relied on the debates," said Dixville Notch resident Tom Tillotson.
Major media outlets, including the New York Times, CNN and Wall Street Journal were all present.
The entire process took less than one minute. Eight of the ballots were put inside the official box at midnight. The last person voted by absentee ballot.
This is the first year two other hamlets held midnight voting alongside Dixville Notch. Polls closed in Hart's Location and Millsfield shortly after midnight.
Tillotson, who also acts as the organizer of the midnight vote, insists there wasn't any competition between the hamlets.
However, he told CBC News that Dixville Notch will always be known as the town the votes first in New Hampshire.
"We've been doing it continuously since we started. The other towns start and stop and that's fine," he said.